Lingle criticizes
‘ice’ spending planThe governor and legislators
disagree over the emphasis
of the drug campaign
The Democratic Legislature's $22 million plan to combat the state's crystal methamphetamine epidemic is "simply throwing money at a problem," Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday.
The proposal, released Monday by a joint House-Senate task force, focuses money on drug education, prevention and treatment, but does not include Lingle administration proposals to broaden wiretap laws and give authorities more leeway to interview suspected drug traffickers at airports.
"Because the administration is to implement the plans, I had hoped it were a little more balanced and a little more thought through," Lingle said in an informal meeting with reporters after a speech at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
But Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Judiciary Committee chairwoman and co-chairwoman of the Joint House-Senate Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement, said lawmakers were worried they were not spending enough.
"I take great exception to that -- that the report is attempting to throw money," said Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua). "I thought we would be criticized for not spending enough.
"It is not a lot of money and if we were going to put in a lot of money, we would have included prisons."
Hanabusa has previously said she wanted the state to start replacing its dilapidated jail system. Lingle has said the same thing and included $26 million in her budget to start planning.
"The governor may not like our $22 million, but I am still confused about how much money they want," Hanabusa said.
Lingle had requested $400,000 extra for drug treatment programs within the Department of Public Safety and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is asking for two positions to help organized a statewide drug treatment plan.
Lingle has left much of theplanning for a battle against crystal meth, or "ice," to Aiona, who said the administration will start advertising for private agencies to submit program proposals using federal money.
Lingle and Hanabusa also differ on what emphasis should be placed on catching and jailing drug users, as opposed to prevention and rehabilitation.
The governor wants changes to the state wiretap law, which is more stringent than federal statute, and increased latitude for authorities to interview suspected drug traffickers at airports.
"It is simply not fair to ask law enforcement to be part of the issue and not give them the tools, it is simply not fair," Lingle said.
Hanabusa said the drug interviews, called "walk and talk," are permitted under federal law and can be conducted by federal drug agents.
The wiretap laws, Hanabusa said, may not be able to be handled without a change to the state Constitution.
Lingle, however, pointed to the legislative panel's recommendation to allow civil commitments of people feared to be drug addicts as of dubious constitutionality.
"I think there are some serious civil rights issues," Lingle said.
Hanabusa said the civil commitment procedure would call for a court hearing and "due process."
Both agreed on one point -- it will be up to the Legislature and administration to figure out a compromise or, they said, "the people will be the big losers."